Bag-lock.



N. B. HOOKER. BAG LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17. 1913.

1,083,612, 79 Patented JaILB, 1914.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

NORMAN E. HOOKER, OF VANDALIA, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 L. A. PRATER, OF CENTRALIA, ILLINOIS.

BAG-LOCK.

Application filed J'une 17, 1913.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, NORMAN E. HOOKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vandalia, in the county of Fayette, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag-Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention is directed to new and useful improvements in locks particularly adaptedV for use in connection with mail bags.

The invention has for its object to so construct a lock that the hasp thereof will automatically lock when inserted in the casing, and may be conveniently disengaged upon the insertion of a key in the casing.

With these and other objects in view, this invention resides in the novel features of construction, formation, combinations and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the lock, showing the same in use in connection with a mail bag strap. Fig. 2 is a similar view, with one of the sides of the casing removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. l is a similar view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side view with the other side plate of the casing broken away. Fig. 6 is a partially perspective view of the tongue.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a casing, the same being provided with a central partition 2, said partition being provided with convergingly arranged slots 3. Fixed to the top and bottom walls f1 of the casing are plates 5 which terminate in resilient arms 6, said arms being provided with flanges 7 which engage in the slots 3. Connected to the flanges 7 and directed toward each other are hollow lugs 8, the end bars 9 of which are curved, the purpose of which will appear later. Fixed to the partition 2 is a plate 10, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

Serial No. 774,185.

side flanges 11 of which are provided with slots 12 through which the wards of a key project. for engagement with the bars 9,

after being passed through the keyhole lf3.v

The casing 1 has one end provided with a slot 14, a sheet metal tongue 15 being adapted for insertion in said slot. The tongue has its side edges tapered as at 16, thus prohole 13, whereupon partial rotation of the key will cause its wards to pass through the slots 12 to move the hollow lugs 8 in opposite directions thereby forcing the lianges 7 in opposite direct-ions so that the shoulders 17 of the tongue 15 may be readily removed from the casing, the leaf spring 15 aiding in forcing the tongue from the casing. As soon as pressure is released upon the key the resilient arms will retract, and at which time the key maybe readily removed thus leaving the flanges 7 in a posi* tion to engage the shoulders 17 with the tongue when the same is again inserted in the casing. The bag strap 18 is provided with an enlarged portion 19 to which the casing 1 is riveted.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a lock has been produced which will effectually lock the mail bag strap so that when the mail bag is thrown from a moving `train the likelihood of the bag opening is eliminated.

`What is claimed is:

1. A lock comprising a casing, a partition mounted in the casing, slots formed in the partition, resiliently support-ed arms carried by the casing, flanges carried by the arms and passa-ble through the slots, a tongue insertible in the casing and adapted to be engaged by the flanges, and means for forcing the flanges away from each other to release the tongue.

2. A lock comprising a casing, a partition mounted in the casing, convergingly arranged slots formed in the partition, re-

silient arms carried by the side walls of the gage the hollow lugs to spread the anges casing, said arms having flanges formed apart to release the shoulders of the tongue. J0

thereon and adapted to engage in the slots, In testimony whereof, alix my signahollow lugs carried by the flanges, a tongue ture, in the presence of two witnesses. insertible in the casing and having shoul- NORMAN EVHOOKER. ders l'oimed upon one end and adapted to Witnesses:

be engaged by the ends of said flanges, CHARLES F. EASTERDAY,

means insertible through the easing to en- ALBERT W. ROCKZIEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, 1).-0. 

